Totally confused about it all but what is the right experience

[Dunemedic]

Thanks to all that have helped me. We have talked about masks and settings, ramp and pressures but I guess my big question and what would help me the most is what should the experience be like? What should a proper CPAP experience feel like. Should my cheeks puff out? My problem is I do not know what a "good Experience" should "Feel" Like.
Help, I am dreading going to sleep and getting anxious about it. This is supposed to make me healthier not worse.

I will stick with it.


John

"Sleepless in Michigan"

[Pugsy]

My cheeks have never puffed out.
Other people have had it happen though.

Use the mask and machine while watching TV...reading a book...and under no pressure to fall asleep...do it for a couple of hours or so while awake. It will help speed up the adjustment process.

[Dunemedic]

My cheeks have never puffed out.
Other people have had it happen though.

Use the mask and machine while watching TV...reading a book...and under no pressure to fall asleep...do it for a couple of hours or so while awake. It will help speed up the adjustment process.

I cant thank you enough for all your help and advice. I hope I get over this fast as I know its what I need but I am sitting here and dreading going to sleep.
J

[kteague]

I had puffy cheeks. For a while I put a stretchy head band around my face/head to help. The thing that helped me most over time was training my tongue to stay suctioned against the roof of my mouth providing a seal against the escape of air that puffs out the cheeks. Also helpful was sleeping mindfully, if that makes any sense. Think about gravity, and how to position oneself in ways that work with gravity to help and not hurt yourself. For me, a firm flat pillow helped, one where the chin is not lower than the head helped prevent a slack jaw. Also helped to let my head hang just slightly over the edge of the pillow so that the front of my face fell just a bit lower thus helping the tongue fall forward rather than back into the throat, which also helped with keeping the tongue sealed and prevented the tongue from falling back into the throat causing apneas. Good luck sorting through things and getting to where you can find a comfortable new normal.